Newly released White House tape transcripts reveal how Ronald Reagan sought to mollify an angry Margaret Thatcher after the US invaded Grenada, part of the Commonwealth, without giving her advance warning. In October 1983, the US president ordered American troops to invade the Caribbean island after the overthrow and murder of the prime minister, Maurice Bishop. The invasion was strongly criticised by Britain, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago. While fighting was still going on, Reagan called his closest international ally to apologise (audio), deploying his famed charm. “If I were there, Margaret, I’d throw my hat in the door before I came in,” said Reagan as an opening gambit. “There’s no need to do that,” was the curt answer from the prime minister. The president went on at length (transcript) to explain that the US was afraid of telling anyone about the invasion in advance, including those Caribbean states that had requested American intervention, because of fears of a mole. Reagan apologised to angry Thatcher over Grenada, tapes reveal
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:33:28 +0000
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